meanwhile gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects both men and women, but men tend to experience more severe symptoms and complications.
Studies have shown that men have more acid exposure and are nearly twice as likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus. esophageal cancer If left untreated.
Esophageal cancer is up to nine times more common in men, who are much more likely to progress from chronic reflux to severe outcomes.
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Dr. Darryl JoffreThe gut health expert, certified nutritionist, and author of “Get Off Your Acid” and “Get Off Your Sugar” spoke to Fox News Digital about how. acid reflux is becoming a “quiet fad” among men, and what can be done about it?
“It’s not just heartburn, it’s a systemic inflammation that starts in the gut and spreads throughout the body,” Joffre says.
“Acid reflux is your body’s alarm system, warning you that your gut, metabolism, and stress response are out of balance.”
today’s man Mr Joffre warned they were living in a “pressure cooker”. “Chronic stress, lack of sleep“Overconsumption of processed foods, alcohol and drugs are destroying gut health and digestion,” he said.
“This, combined with a typical diet high in meat, alcohol and ultra-processed foods, and a tendency to ignore symptoms, creates a perfect storm of chronic inflammation and increased risk of reflux compared to women.”
Eating late at night, eating large portions, low in fiber, and consuming lots of caffeine also work against men, he says. In addition to dietary choices, a man’s lifestyle behaviors can also affect digestion.
“Many men skip meals, eat too quickly, or rely on food. instant food Minerals and fiber have been removed,” Joffre said.
Over time, he warned, this “continuous acid attack” erodes the intestinal lining, pushing acid upwards and turning normal esophagus cells into precancerous Barrett cells, dramatically increasing the risk of cancer.
When it comes to ultra-processed foods, Joffre says there are three specific ingredients that worsen acid reflux: refined salt, sugar, seed oil.
“Together, they cause inflammation of the intestines, weakening both digestion and the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve that keeps stomach acid in its natural location),” he says.
Joffre noted that men tend to drink more coffee than women, usually two or three cups a day on an empty stomach.
“Continuous caffeine intake strips your body of minerals, dehydrates your body, and causes acidity to spike, all of which increase your risk of reflux.”
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Ultimately, he said, “men need to slow down, eat foods that support digestion and strengthen the gut, and stop relying on quick fixes. Otherwise, reflux disease will only get worse and harder to treat.”
There are some biological differences between the sexes that account for this. men are at higher risk Joffre said the patient may have a severe gastrointestinal illness.
“Men are hit harder when acid reflux occurs because they produce less mucus and saliva, the body’s natural defense systems that buffer acid from refluxing into the esophagus,” he says.
“That acid burns and erodes tissues that weren’t designed to handle acid in the first place, creating inflammation, damage, and long-term complications.”
Young men also tend to have more visceral (abdominal) fat, which increases pressure in the stomach and pushes acid up the esophagus, Joffre noted.
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Hormones also play a role.
”female estrogen “It appears to protect the esophagus by improving blood flow and mucosal repair, but men have much less of that protection,” the doctor said. “At lower concentrations than in women, refluxed tissue does not recover as quickly after repeated acid exposure.”
Joffre recommends that men take these simple steps to start reducing their risk immediately.
“One of the biggest and most overlooked causes of acid reflux is diet. It’s too close to bedtime“When you lie down after eating, gravity doesn’t help keep your stomach acid where it’s supposed to be, so it’s more likely that the acid will flow back up into your esophagus,” Joffre said.
This is why reflux symptoms are often worse at night, he noted, and “why so many men wake up coughing, choking, burning in the throat, hoarse, and with a sour taste in the mouth.”
Joffre says it’s best to stop eating three hours before bedtime, so your body has time to fully digest, empty your stomach, and reduce stomach acid levels before you lie down.
Common triggers include garlic, onions, spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, citrus fruits, and carbonated water, Joffre said.
“All of these weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve that keeps stomach acid where it should be,” he says. “When that muscle relaxes, acid flows upwards, inflaming the lining of the esophagus and throat and causing heartburn.”
Doctors also recommend supplementing with alkaline minerals, digestive enzymes, and high-quality probiotics. Examples of alkaline-rich foods include: leafy vegetablesvegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, mineral or spring water.
Joffre recommends starting your morning with warm lemon water and a teaspoon of local honey, or black tea with slippery elm.
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“This helps calm you down and calm you down. upper gastrointestinal tract “It relieves reflux,” he says, adding that it’s also important to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Try simple grounding exercises like walking barefoot in the grass, taking deep breaths, or stepping outside. reconnect with naturehelps promote gut health.
“They activate the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ system, which calms the intestines and naturally suppresses stomach acid levels,” Joffre says. “Go outside and move after eating, and do some deep breathing and stretching instead of a late night snack.”
When men don’t sleep well, their bodies produce more of the key substance cortisol. stress hormone.
“When you have high cortisol, you’re stuck in a constant fight-or-flight state. When you’re in that mode, your body focuses on survival rather than resting, digesting, and repairing,” Joffre says.
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In this condition, blood is diverted away from the intestines and directed to the muscles and brain. This means digestion slows, stomach acid production decreases, and food stays in the stomach for too long, causing bloating, gas, and even reflux, he noted.
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“If you want to treat reflux naturally, you can’t just change what you eat; you need to change it.” how do you live“Quality sleep and stress management are non-negotiable if you want to heal your gut and calm your stomach acid down to its root causes,” Joffre said.
